The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-28
PRICE THREE CENTS.
A Talk About Flowers.
Written for the PEEaa.1

II
/ II Is not yet too late for the planting of
hardy bulbs for the coming year. Tulips
ought to be planted by the hundred where
there isplenty Of room, for they come into
bloom early in spring. when the garden looks
desolate, and II early and late varieties are
selected, they continue for six or more
weeks know Of nothing that will AFFORD
so much satisfaction by the way Of spring
| flowers as a large collection Of all sorts OF
tulips, single and double, dwarf and tall. OF
all colors excepting black. / ought not
perhaps, 20 make this exception now. for 1
| md In one catalogue, and only one, under
the head Of 'Other Species Of Tulips" one
named Oeulis Suns Eye, red and black.
| There are rich. dark puppies and browns
feathered with white. which form pleasing
contrast To the scarlet and gold striped. The
Due Van ThOlls are the earliest TO bloom,
and the ByblOemens and Bizarres the latest.
The former are different shades Of purple,
violet and rose on a white ground. The lat
ter are scarlet, purple, pink on yellow
ground. Beautifully striped and fenthsred.
they are very attractive. The Parrot tulips
are very fantastic In form and brilliant IN
eolor-scaIle., crimson, orange and green
curiously intermixed. II is well TO have
lew for variety.
Tulips can be purchased, unnamed, single.
early, finest mixed eolors, 30 cents per dozen,
sl.5O per 100; double mixed, late and Parrot
$500 per 100 Where one does not want 20
many. a club can be easily secured. and then
the DulO5 Dc DIVIDED up. This is really the
best way Of getting whatever bulbs are
wanted.
The Due Van Tholls are the best adapted
for house culture. They can be obtained In
colors Of red-bordered with yellow, pure
yellow, white, rose, scarlet, crimson and
gold striped. They were first introduced
into English gardens In 1908. The single
early -Gesneriana-was first made
known by Conrad Gesner, Swiss natural
list, In 1859. He obtained his specimen from
garden at Augsburge. where II was grown
from seed brought from Constantinople.
From this species there has sprung an al
most endless variety. The seedlings, when
they first bloom are all sells with a yellow
base. Sometimes II Is several years before
they break into stripes. l have had them
when the first indication OF the break was
apparent In just shade Of difference In
hue.
The best soil for the culture OF tulIps ia .
rich, light well-drained loan. Rock-salted
dressing should be thoroughly worked into
the soil. For all bulbs we prefer to have
little bed OF sand in which they each lie.
They are not so liable TO decay. Tulip bulbs
should be planted four or 1--WE inches In
depth, and about six inches apart. The bulbs
ought not to be taken up after blooming I'M
I'll the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry.
After being thoroughly cleaned they can be
Kept in paper bags In eooldry place. We have
which are but little known. Some have scar
let leaves edged with silver; there are yellow
banded and silver striped, Others golden or
silver splashed and ribboned, leaf-spots Of
standard Towering varieties.
cRocUs.
This Is one Of the earliest Of our spring
flowers and ought to be grown largely. It IL
well adapted to house culture. They ought
10 be planted six or eight In pot. When
planted out Of doors they should remain I'M
disturbed for many years. They can be
bought In mixed or separate colors for Efty
cents per hundred.
HYAcINTHs.
These are very desirable for winter bloom.
ing in the house, or for spring In the outdoor
garden. They are perfectly hardy and easy
Of culture. The single are preferable for tho
house; IL they bloom in glasses they are
worthless afterwards. IL In pots Il Is best
TO plant them In the ground the next autumn.
IL one would have succession during the
winter bring them forward at intervals. We
usually pot six or eight, after watering put
them In the cellar for i've or six weeks 10
form roots, and then bring them up at inter-
walls so as to have one or more In bloom dur
ing the winter The Roman hyacinths are
the earliest TO Hover, the individual FORTS
are not so numerous as with the other sorts
but one bud usually bears several spikes.
The golden jonquils, dellciously fragrant.
and the narcissus In variety, are admirable
both for indoor and outdoor culture. The
cabiana somewhat resembles the ixia but OF
dwarfer growth, eolors, blue. purple and
crimson. Plant three or four bulbs In pot
Fresias are lovely and sweet for house cuI-
ture. The bulbs are small and half dozen
are none TO many to plant In a elump. Cy-
elamens are beautiful both In foliage and
flower, and among the very best Of bulbs
for the winter collection.
We have made special reference TO such
bulbs as can be grown 10 advantage either
In the house or out Of doors, but
we have no disposition to pass by
in silence the lilies so lovely and fragrant
We would say plant just as many as you can
and in variety so that they may follow In
succession the spring blossoms until Octo-
Der. More and more highly each year We do
prize the bulb garden, which once establish
ed requires so little care. We have for sew
eral years continued TO add from nfty to one
hundred bulbs at time, and care not II every
bed Is filled with them. IL you have no.
heretofore begun on the line Of hardy bulbs,
begin at once; you will never regret Il.
MARY ID. WELCOME.